Building Discipline:
Habits of Leading Traders

A Guide for Overcoming Your Biggest Roadblock

Does this sound familiar?

  • You don’t stick to your trading plan.
  • You break your own rules.
  • You fail to follow through on your word.

If it’s a yes to any of these, you’re in the right place. Let’s fix that today – or at least start heading in the right direction.

Discipline is The Key

Back in the early 2000s, I had a great short-term edge trading shares on the London Stock Exchange. Back then, algorithms weren’t as sharp as they are now, and I learned how to spot their moves. My morning trading sessions would usually yield good money. But, there was a problem: my discipline sucked.

I would second-guess trades, veer off my plan, and take on too much size. By the afternoon, I was often a mess.

Does this hit home? Let me tell you what I learned:

Discipline is the key to everything.

You can have the best strategy in the world, but if you can’t follow your own rules, you won’t get far. The only thing standing between you and where you want to be is… you.

Sure, this sounds straightforward, but it’s a lot harder to execute. Why is that?

The Struggle to Stick to Rules

Chances are, you’ve tried all the tricks – rewarding yourself when you follow your plan, punishing yourself when you don’t. And yet, the same patterns continue.

Here’s the thing: you’re likely repeating the same broken approach, expecting different results. It’s time to flip the switch.

Clarity and Decision-Making in Trading

You need total clarity in your trading plan. If you’re second-guessing yourself in the heat of the moment, your “chimp brain” will take over, steering you wrong.

Here’s a simple example: Let’s say you plan to go long after an ignition bar moves up from VWAP. When that signal shows up, you need to act. No hesitation. The clearer your plan, the fewer impulsive decisions you’ll make – and no, you don’t need to become a robot to do this.

Building Confidence in Your Trading Plan

“How can I have confidence in my plan if I haven’t seen results yet?”

I get it. But there’s no shortcut. You need to build that confidence by sticking to your plan consistently. Second-guessing in the heat of the moment almost always leads to a negative outcome.

Daily Routines and Habits

From this moment forward, make the decision: “I am a disciplined trader.”

That doesn’t mean you won’t make mistakes, but it does mean you’ll cultivate routines and habits that reflect discipline. Your actions should align with the identity of a disciplined person.

Visualisation

Take a moment to identify your biggest trading weakness. Now, visualise yourself in that situation with all the emotions attached. Picture yourself acting exactly how you’d like to behave – disciplined, focused, unwavering. How does that feel?

Make this a part of your routine. Visualise it big, bold, and in detail, especially after an emotional shift (good or bad).

Tools and Tactics for Staying Disciplined

You don’t need to make life harder than it already is. If overtrading is your Achilles heel, step away from the screen when there’s no opportunity.

Ask yourself:

  • What can I do operationally to stay disciplined?
  • What even defines discipline in my trading?

Resetting Your Identity

Think of your fittest friend. They don’t have to force themselves to avoid junk food; it’s just not part of their identity. Likewise, to become a disciplined trader, you need to shift your identity to one where sticking to your rules is second nature.

Discipline is a Muscle

Discipline, like any muscle, needs to be built. Start small – find something outside of trading where the consequences are limited, and stick to a plan. Build the muscle and watch how it translates to your trading.

Practical Tactics to Build Discipline

  • Hit the gym.
  • Stick to a healthy diet.
  • Try cold exposure.
  • Read daily.
  • Start conversations with strangers.

It doesn’t matter what it is – just pick something, commit to it, and follow through.

No Dabbling Allowed

You can’t dabble in discipline, but you also won’t be perfect. Mastering discipline is a challenging, lifelong pursuit. The path won’t be straight, but it’s worth the effort.

Balance the pressure and remember: incremental improvement beats perfection every time. One slice of cake doesn’t mean you should eat the whole thing!

Final Thoughts

Define what discipline looks like for you. Build a plan. Set up routines and habits to support it. Visualise your success. Track your progress.

It’s not the chart patterns or trade setups that will transform your trading – it’s this. Discipline is the ultimate unlock. Give it the attention it deserves, and you’ll be amazed at what follows.